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Road safety campaigner Clive Matthew-Wilson, who runs the Dog and Lemon Guide for buying cars, said it was a "no-brainer".

"It's like handing people a gun without a firearms licence."

It was becoming a bigger issue because law changes had made licences harder to get and the poor were "bailing out of the system," Matthew-Wilson said.

Ministry of Transport spokesman Brenden Crocker said a law change had been considered.

"The main reason for not recommending legislative change has been because such a requirement could disadvantage people who want to own a car so as to maintain their mobility but may be unable to drive, for example, the elderly or infirm who may get someone else to drive for them.

"Arguably this situation is less applicable to motorcycle ownership, however it is the safety and competence of drivers and riders that is the paramount issue."